Ali Jawad

Ali Jawad is a human rights activist and political analyst with a keen interest in international diplomacy, the Middle East and the Islamic Awakening. He sits on an advisory committee for advocacy and political awareness at the AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM).

The recent events of violence between Muslims have led towards a new focal point: the shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab (a). This occurs within the context of a simmering stand-off between two outlooks. On the one hand, the ‘takfiri’ Muslim who is intent on destroying Islamic symbols that connect the conscience …

Racial, ethnic and ideological intolerances, as well as the often more destructive yet rarely highlighted frictions that arise from inter-state politics and rivalries have all featured in one way or another during our lifetimes—always with calamitous results. In recent times, western media outlets have zoomed in on Islamic radicalism …

The fourth month of the Islamic calendar coincides with one of the reported dates of birth of the eleventh Shi’i Imam, Imam Hasan al-Askari (a). Ambiguities concerning the life of the Imam extend not only to relatively meagre issues like historical dates, but unfortunately, much of his life—just as with …

Men of faith define the present times in precarious terms. Beneath the glamour of technological progress, any deeper assessment of the general human condition presents a far more sombre reality. ‘What is to blame for our current perils?’ one may ask. In essence, we are living the after-effects of the …

Among the greatest blessings bestowed to humanity are the related gifts of reason and freewill. Through these faculties, human beings are able to determine their choices, chart their destinies, transcend the narrow limitations of the ‘present’ and envisage a more perfect ‘future’. In their absence, terms like social justice and …

“Well, what would happen if this revolution doesn’t work? I think we are going to be destroyed with all means. I think they are going to target [us] one by one … whoever spoke against [the regime] will be targeted in the future. I believe it’s all about win or …

Stories of revolutions take a long time to be told. The tides of change currently sweeping across the Middle East – steadily rattling one kleptocratic autocrat after the next – will amaze and no doubt exhaust the energies of subsequent generations as they attempt to build a theoretical edifice against …

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has graphically chronicled the heart-wrenching realities that have shrouded over Manama in recent days. Whilst there may be criticisms of a sometimes de-contextualised narrative, his articles are nevertheless sufficient to shed light on the fundamental grievances that have spurred the popular protests across Bahrain. …

The depths of time safeguard dark and bitter stories of oppression and suffering. Safeguard, I say, in the hope that humanity would one day be intelligent enough to pay heed. It is not altogether unusual for the virtuous to be slain at the hands of vengeful seekers of power and …

Whilst all wars have a rational “end”, some are less rational than others. The participation of the Saudi and Yemeni establishments in their war against Yemeni Houthis has been a catastrophic error – so catastrophic, in fact, as to verge on political suicide. After months of blind bombing raids, the …

There has been a lot of hustling and bustling in the Middle East lately, so much so that you might be forgiven for thinking that the promised winds of “change” are firmly on their way. Not since Condi Rice’s now infamous heralding of a “New Middle East” — whilst bombs …